Allison E. Burns

Allison E. Burns is a partner in Stradling's Public Law practice group.

Allison has particular experience in local agency governance matters, civil rights litigation, eminent domain, general real estate litigation, contract disputes, and construction disputes.

Her experience also includes economic development; affordable housing litigation; land use and planning litigation and representation; relocation and acquisition disputes; conflicts of interest; Public Records Act and Brown Act challenges, compliance and litigation; environmental contamination and remediation cost-recovery actions; water rights; and the dissolution of redevelopment.

Allison serves as city attorney to the city of Lancaster and general counsel to the:

  • Chino Basin Desalter Authority
  • Emerald Bay Service District
  • San Juan Basin Authority
  • Santiago Aqueduct Commission

Her litigation experience includes:

  • Constitutional and civil rights challenges to governmental programs and actions
  • Development agreement disputes
  • Eminent domain representing both condemnees and condemnors
  • Breaches of covenants, conditions and restrictions
  • Foreclosure of taxes, special assessments, and liens
  • Construction disputes
  • Contamination and remediation cost-recovery actions
  • Evictions
  • Challenges to bond issuances
  • Affordable housing disputes, including challenges to expenditures from low-and-moderate-income housing funds

During law school, Allison served as a judicial extern to Justice Fred K. Morrison, Third District Court of Appeal, State of California (1996) and the Honorable Garland E. Burrell, U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of California (1997).

 

Experience

On June 15, 2017, Stradling client, the City of San Bernardino, reached a major milestone in its chapter 9 bankruptcy case when its Plan of Adjustment became effective and the City emerged from bankruptcy. Stradling represented the City in its bankruptcy case, and in assisting the City in reaching this momentous milestone. 
Defended city in a challenge filed in federal district court and appealed to the 9th Circuit alleging that the city’s policy of allowing all denominations to provide an invocation consistent with their beliefs at the beginning of city council meetings violated the United States and California Constitutions.
Represented the City of Rialto in California Environmental Quality Act challenge to proposed Wal-Mart store.
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Credentials

Education
  • University of California, Davis, J.D., 1998
  • University of California, Irvine, B.A., with honors, Phi Beta Kappa, 1995
  • California

Related Practices

Related Industries & Initiatives